Geraldton wax

An Australian shrub, with needle-like leaves and white to violet flowers.

Common name : Geraldton wax

Scientific name : Chamelaucium uncinatum

Family : Myrtaceae

Category : Shrubs

Type of plant : Perennial

Cold-sensitive

Minimal water

Flowery

Large pot

The geraldton wax - or waxflower - is a drought tolerant perennial that just can’t be beat for consistent bloom, ease of care and tolerant nature. Some recent cultivars are frost hardy down to 27 degrees Fahrenheit (-2 C.). Its growing conditions include full sun, well-draining soil and low moisture.
It is a fast-growing, thick shrub of 4 to 6 feet in height, with red stems where leaves stand out against the hue, flowers usually deep purple to red or pink depending on the variety and shiny, berry-like buds along the ends of the stems. While the type species blooms white flowers in winter, there are now several hybrids from which to choose with differing bloom periods and tones from pink, red and white, often on the same plant.

Sowing & planting

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Flowering

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Caracteristics

Exposition

Water needs

Granulométrie

plants.granulometry_1

Frost-resistance

Medium

Zone USDA

9a

Height

100 - 300

pH

5.5 - 6.7

Identify my geraldton wax

The wax flower - also known as Geraldton wax - is a small shrub often taller than wide but not exceeding 3 meters.
The evergreen leaves are very narrow, about 4 cm long, opposite, almost cylindrical, with a small curved tip. The foliage is slightly aromatic, it contains an essential oil. Its flexible branches can be easily trellised on a support.
Flowering is in clusters and appears from the end of winter until June. The flower, less than 2 centimeters in diameter, has 5 rounded petals usually pale, waxy in appearance, well spaced from each other, with a darker central disk, shaped like a spiky section all around, colors often bright, pink, purple or red with a halo of white.

Plant my geraldton wax

Plant your wax in a sunny position, in a very well drained soil or sandy, neutral acid. It will enjoy a bit of shade during the hottest hours of the day.
Plant in open soil, in the spring so that it is sufficiently rooted to support the first winter. The wax will only support short frosts: in areas where frost is common, grow it in pot in order to shelter it in winter.

Protect my geraldton wax

To help it through winter, protect your plant from cold winds — these are its only real enemy! — by spreading a good layer of mulch at its base. In this manner, even in the case of heavy frosts, new branches will sprout from the plant. If your plant is potted, shelter it from winds by moving it closer to a wall, by potentially raising it from direct contact with the ground, and if possible, protecting the pot itself by wrapping it with burlap, and possibly stuffed with straw.

Water my geraldton wax

As a shrub from dry lands, the wax will prefer having little watering more than having too much!
Water sparingly for a few weeks after planting, and still a little the first summer in case of very dry period: check the needs by pushing your finger a few inches deep in the substrate, and water only if it is dry underneath.
If grown in a pot, and depending on the size of the pot, you may need to water fro time to time - same thing, check with your finger and water only if needed!

Repot my geraldton wax

If you keep your wax potted, if possible repot every 2 to 3 years, in a simple potting soil and a slightly larger pot.
Otherwise, scrape and remove the upper layer of the mixture, and replace it with some new potting soil or some well decomposed compost.

Prune my geraldton wax

A light trim after bloom is all your was needs ! Do trim right after bloom or you might put the next flowering at risk.